STOP Trying to be a Good Writer... Harsh Writing Advice!

Do you struggle to write good prose? Do you ever catch yourself writing a sentence, then staring at it until you hate it and delete it? If so, this video is for you. Beautiful prose can be awesome – but what is more important: making your writing SOUND good? Or making your reader feel something? That's the question we're challenging in today's video. Get ready for some brutally honest writing advice.

________________________________

Subscribe for weekly episodes of #WritersLifeWednesdays! Make Your Story Matter™ and make your author dreams come true… new videos every Wednesday.

✨ V A L U A B L E R E S O U R C E S✨

MORE VIDEOS YOU WOULD LIKE:

→ HOW TO FIND YOUR MC'S FATAL FLAW

→ WHY YOUR FIRST CHAPTER SUCKS

→ PLOTTING A STORY... FOR WRITERS WHO HATE PLOTTING

→ 10 WEAK WORDS TO CUT FROM YOUR NOVEL

✨F O L L O W ✨

✨ A B O U T ✨
My name is Abbie Emmons I teach writers how to make their stories matter by harnessing the power and psychology of storytelling, transforming their ideas into a masterpiece, and creating a lifestyle that makes their author dreams come true.

Story isn’t about “what happens” — it’s about how what happens affects and transforms the characters. I believe that there is an exact science (a recipe, if you will) behind a perfect story. And if you know what ingredients you need, you can create your own perfect story with ease and confidence. That’s what we talk about every week on this channel – and if it’s something you’re into, be sure to subscribe and join this community!

[melodid]

Don't forget folks... what you read are FINISHED books. Edited and read 50 plus times! Just write your story damn it! And yes! I'm talking to myself!

[SuperNovaJinckUFO]

There's a quote about the movie Amadeus that I think it relevant here: "Salieri wanted to be a great composer, but Mozart wanted to make music"

[QuanticDreamer]

"I don't want the readers to hear my voice. I want them to hear my characters' voice"
Thank you!!!

[amitamridha]

I have the overwhelming pressure to make every sentence pretty and purposeful... this is the perfect video for me-

[whatamessfilms]

My creative writing teacher once told me that my writing was too flowery to the point that it was annoying. That comment made me hate my writing so much I ended up rethinking every sentence I came up with and just wrote down what I was saying in the most simplistic way. Harsh writing advice, but it was the best writing advice I've ever gotten lol

[Maryam-goyq]

I didn't ask to be attacked personally...but I needed to be 😌

[thatbabybird]

Abbie - STOP trying to impress somebody who doesn't care!
Me - :0

[sadhairlineboiking]

Me trying to make my writing perfect, pressured, frustrated: 🥺📝
Abbie: *posts*
Me: ❤👁👄👁📝

[glynfrans]

I LOVE pretty prose. I don't want to write it to impress people and I don't want to write it because I feel like I have to in order to be taken seriously—I simply enjoy crafting beautiful sentences. HOWEVER, when I am writing from the perspective of a character who does not care about eloquence or poetry, I intentionally "dumb it down" or make it simpler. Because portraying a character as they are is so much more important! They don't need big words to get their thoughts across, so there is absolutely no need to write their story like they've swallowed a dictionary. Pretty writing without emotion is just pretty. It doesn't move anyone, and that's what matters.
Love the video! Very important advice! 👍

[mylitcorner]

I came here because I was feeling discouraged about my writing being too childish, and I'm leaving encouraged. You're amazing

[Scilmeara]

I like beautiful writing; I find it to be more immersive. There's something about a well written sentence that almost tastes good. That being said, I've definitely enjoyed things that were written more simply as well.

[havvaalexander]

Sometimes the most simplistic sentence is beautiful and captivating.

[DeeBlaregold]

I love the idea of raw, simple writing that makes me feel something; or makes me take a second thought about a scene or situation. Thank you, pretty lady!

[Ellemaebooks]

Comparing ourselves to other writers is going to be the downfall of us. It can be great to learn from those you admire but readers come FOR YOU, not for the other writers so you should show them who you are and your story in the most authentic way possible.
Love this Abbie! Thanks for always making videos we didn't know we needed!

[maxwrigley]

I'm starting a Creative Writing degree in September & I soooo needed this video. If I get a 1st at the end of my degree, I won't just be thanking my lecturers, I'll also be thanking you as I've been binge-watching your videos since the start of the pandemic. Much love from the UK!!!

[jackgaffney]

Is it bad if my writing isn’t ‘pretty’? Like I don’t even try to make it that way, my vocabulary is limited and I know it but idc, I don’t want to be a writer, I just want to tell a story.

[michaelcolt]

I really appreciate it when one, simple sentence can reach into my soul and plant itself there and draw out emotions I can't even explain. Now that is impressive.

[petrajorova]

I’ve just sit down for my writing and check YouTube for fast motivation and it showed me this new video posted two minutes ago! That’s awesome!❤️

[Victoria-vfgt]

Woah 😳 this advice hit me so hard. I've always loved creative writing, but everytime I've tried really getting into it (drafting a decent manuscript, creating a writing life, etc) I've found the excitement sputters out and leaves me only drained. Why? I've never been able to figure out how I could end up hating something I loved, but it's because my goal when I got serious was to craft something "beautiful." Ooof. Thank you! Sometimes a lil tough love is what it takes.

[MG.dreamgirl]

You're like my writing coach, Abbie. And this video saved me from a lot of negativity today. I love it so much. I can't thank you enough. Because I needed it ☺